Supporting device or catafalque



Sept 6, 1932. .1. L. FRANZEN 1,875,435

SUPPORTING DEVICE OR CATAFALQUE Filed June 27. 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 IHUCH'OI:

756/7 Franzen Sept. 6, 1932. J. FRANzl-:N 1,875,435

SUPPORTING DEVICE OR CATAFALQUE Filed June 27. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 JOI-IN L;,FRANZEN, 0F `OREGON" CITY,'OREGON l surnomme DEVICE on CATAFALQUE Appiiation filed June 27, i931. serial No. 541281.

My invention relates to devices forV supf porting van obj ect in a horizontal plane upon an uneven or inclined surface, and relates particularly tosuch devices commonly known as a catafalque adapted for supporting a casket or coiiin over an open grave.

It is desirable, when funeral services are held in a cemetery, that the casket be supported over the open grave in a horizontal plane, irrespective of the slope of the ground, and that the means provided for such purpose be adapted to be concealed by draperies and flowers, or the like, and thus also conceal the open grave. It is further desirable that such means be adapted to permit the casket to be lowered into the grave without removing the said supporting means, whereby as many of the unpleasant and depressing parts of the service as possible will be hidden.

l a coffin in a horizontal plane irrespective of Therefore the object of my invention is to provide a simple but strong and economically manufactured supporting frame, conveniently adjustable to support an obj ect specifically the unevenness or slope of the surface upon which 1t 1s mounted.

A further and more particular object of` my invention is to provide an adjustable perimetric frame adapted to be mounted upon the margin of an open grave and to support a coiiin thereon and permit the latter to be lowered through the said frame into the grave by means of auxiliary devices support-L ed upon the frame.

A still further object of my invention is of my invention and illustrates my supporting device adjusted to rest upon an inclined surface andV support the coin in a horizontal plane; f

Fig. 4 shows a section taken onvthe line 4--4 of Fig. 3

'Fig.' 5 shows an enlarged fragmentary 'view of the means bywhich thecross arms v 4are adjustable in the frame;

Fig.V 6 shows a section taken 6 6 of'Fig. 5;

Fig.l 7 shows iny a view similar to Fig. 5 further details of the means by which the cross arms are adjustable on the frame;

F ig.` 8 shows a fragmentaryperspective viewof one cross' arm and the means by on the line which itis adjustable in the frame, the various parts being separated to further` illustrate the details of construction; and` Fig. 9 shows a plan view of my supporting Sdevice and illustrates how the cofin is supported thereon by auxiliary devices. l

Referring now to the figures, my invention comprises similar rectangular frame members a., @constructed preferably of light angle iron and provided with diagonally arranged arms'c pivotally mounted on the sides of the frame member a, as at d, for movement in theplaneofthe respective sides and -adjustably connectedv to the corresponding sides ofthe frame member b in slots e, hereinafter further described. Similar arms c', f are provided connecting the ends of the frame members a, b, which are pivoted to the vframe member'a` as at d, and areadjustably secured in slots e", similar to the slot e.

Similar diagonally arranged arms f are `pivotally mounted on' the frame member b,

as at g, and slidably connected to the frame member a in slots 71, by means of bolts 2 and wing nuts 2a.

By these means a perimetric supporting frame is provided adapted to be mounted upon the margin of a grave, see Figs. 3 and 4, which may be adjusted in the slots e and h as required to position the frame member a in a horizontal plane irrespective of the inclination of the ground and to support a colnn thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 1. i

In order to permit the Collin to be lowered through the said perimetric frame, I provide a standard lowering device, see Fig. 9, comprising parallel shafts 3, provided with pulleys which have wound over them broad belts', upon which the coliin is supported and which by rotating the shafts 3 in unison and in opposite directions will unwind the said belts and lower the cotlin into the open grave.

Brace membersa` and o'are provided, respectively, at the corners of the frame members a, for strength and to provide in the case of the frame member a a supporting surface for the said lowering device.

The arms c and c', f are adjustably'secured in the slots e and e', respectively, of the frame member by means of bolts p provided with wing nuts 79 and engageable in notches q provided in the said slots.

A slide member 7" is provided between the arm and the frame side having an opening s, one end of which is inclined as at s', through which the bolts p project. By moving the slide 1 so as to cause the bolt ;0 to ride upward v on the incline s', the bolt p will be disengaged from the notches q and held so, to permit the ready adjustment of the arms to position the frame member horizontally, irrespective of the slope of the ground.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, my supporting frame is adjusted by releasing the bolts ya and disengaging them from the notches g by the slides 1", and then after'manually positioning the frame member a so as to lie in a horizontal plane, I move the slide v 1' so that the bolts p will slip into the notches g and then tighten the bolts the wing nuts p. f y

In order to conveniently disassemble my supporting frame into two end sections and two side sections, so that it may be readily carried and transported, I have provided removable bolts 2, 3, for securing the brace members or plat-es u and 'v to the sides o1c the frame members a, Y). Such construction permits my supporting frame to be readily separable by the removal of the said bolts and to be as readily assembled by securing them in place.

I claim:V 1. A Collin stage comprising, upper and lower elongate rectangular companion frames, diagonal arms connecting the ends l of said frames, said arms pivoted at one end oted' at one end to one frame and movably secured at the other end to the companion frame, said arms adapted to support the upper frame of the stage parallel or obliquely with the base, whereby to arrange the upper frame in a horizontal plane irrespective of the slope of the ground on which the stage is pla-ced.

JOI-IN L. FRANZEN.

p by means of 

